तालजङ्घाभिधा येषां वीतिहोत्रो ऽग्रजो ऽभवत्
Among those called Tāla-jaṅgha, Vītihotra was the eldest.
कालं महान्तमवसद्धिमाद्रिवानगह्वरे
He dwelt for a long time in a mountain cave.
तालजङ्घो ऽपतद्भूमौ मूर्छितो गाढवेदनः
Tāla-jaṅgha fell to the ground, unconscious and in severe pain.
रथमारोप्य वेगेन पलायनपरो ऽभवत्
He mounted a chariot and, with speed, became intent on fleeing.
कृच्छ्रं महान्तमासाद्य शाकमूलफलाशनः
Having encountered great hardship, he survived on vegetables, roots, and fruits.
जालजङ्घः स्वकं राज्यं सपुत्रः प्रत्यपद्यत
Jālajaṅgha, along with his son, regained his own kingdom.
वसंस्तदा निजं राज्यमापालयदरिन्दमः
Then, that destroyer of enemies governed his own kingdom.
अभ्याययौ महाराज तालजङ्घः पुरं तव
O great king, Tāla-jaṅgha approached your city.
रुरोदाभ्येत्य नगरीमयोध्यां स महीपतिः
That king, upon reaching the city of Ayodhya, wept.
युयुधे तैर्नृपैः सर्वैर्वृद्धो ऽपि तरुणो यथा
He fought with all those kings, though old, as if he were young.
शत्रुभिर्निर्जितो वृद्धः पलायनपरो ऽ भवत्
Defeated by his enemies, the old man became intent on fleeing.
अन्तर्वत्न्या च ते मात्रा सहितो वनमाविशत्
Accompanied by your mother, he entered the forest while she was pregnant.
शोकामर्षसमाविष्टो वृद्धभावेन च स्वयम्
He was overcome by grief and anger, and himself appeared aged.
अनाथ इव राजेन्द्र स्वर्गलोकमितो गतः
Like one without support, O King, he departed from this world to heaven.
चितामारोपयद्भर्तू रुदती सा कलेवरम्
She, weeping, placed her husband's body upon the funeral pyre.
चकाराग्निप्रवेशाय सुदृढां मतिमात्मनः
She resolved firmly in her mind to enter the fire.
निर्गत्य चाश्रमात्तां च वारयन्निदमब्रवीत्
Coming out from the hermitage, he spoke to her, restraining her thus.
पुत्रस्तिष्ठति सर्वेषां प्रवरश्चवर्त्तिनाम्
A son remains, the foremost among all leaders.
ततः सा सर्वदुःखानि नियम्य त्वन्मुखांबुजम्
Then, controlling all her sorrows, she gazed upon your lotus-like face.
सुषाव च ततः काले सा त्वामौर्वाश्रमे तदा
Then, in due time, she gave birth to you in the hermitage of Aurva.
और्वाश्रमे विवृद्धश्च भवांस्तेनानुकंपितः
You grew up in Aurva's hermitage, and were shown compassion by him.
एवं प्रभावो नृपतिः कार्त्तवीर्यो ऽभवद्भुवि
Thus, King Kārtavīrya became renowned upon the earth.
यद्वंशजैर्जितो युद्धे पिता ते वनमादिशत्
When your father was defeated in battle by the descendants of that lineage, he directed you to the forest.
एतच्च सर्वमाख्यातं व्रतानामुत्तमं तव
All this has been related to you, the supreme vow.
न ह्यस्य कर्त्तुर्नृपतेः पुरुषार्थचतुष्टये
For the performer, O King, there is nothing lacking in the four aims of human life.
जामदग्न्यस्य च मुने किमन्यत्कथयामि ते
O sage, what else shall I tell you about Jamadagni?
ततः स सगरो राजा कृताञ्जलिपुटो मुनिम्
Then King Sagara, with hands joined in reverence, approached the sage.
सम्यक्तमुपदेशेन तत्रानुज्ञां प्रयच्छ मे
With proper instruction, grant me permission here.
इत्युक्तस्तेन राज्ञातु तथेत्युक्त्वा महामुनिः
Thus addressed by the king, the great sage replied, 'So be it.'
स दीक्षितो वसिष्ठेन सगरो राजसत्तमः
King Sagara, the best of kings, was initiated by Vasiṣṭha.